Where We're Going

Well, the election happened.  I hope we all continue to be good citizens and participate in our democracy.

Here are three maps to consider as we study more about the Civil War in 8th grade. (We now know Florida went to President Obama.) Are there reverberations of the Civil War in this most recent election? Is this the way we want it? If it needs to improve, how do we do that?

What is 'Common Core?'
When we are thinking about these maps, and whether or not there's a connection, or comparing texts of speeches, or thinking about the connections between science and history, or what kinds of jobs do people have who are/were working on the campaigns and on Hurricane Sandy, or when we are preparing resumés and making goals for ourselves, we are thinking 'critically.' We are communicating, evaluating, generating ideas, planning, solving problems, designing, taking risks. We are becoming contributors rather than comply-ers and test-takers.

This is the emphasis of the new 'Common Core' standards which our state has adopted and which focus on the really important stuff (- which I have always focused on anyhoo!) So, it will NOT be important that you remember what the Wilmot Proviso was (unless you become a historian) but it is important that you understand its significance in the context of what you are learning at the time. You need to be able to 'surf-think' and to do it well.

If you engage and let me help you become a good writer and good mathematician, you will never be in the fix this girl is, no matter what job you go for - or create!

Why We Need Common Core